Improvement in shoe-fastenings



" w. mmxs'rm.

SHOE-FASTENING.

Pate'hted Dec. 21,1875.

BIL-171,274.

. i J Q INVENTOR ATTORN EYS WITNESSES U ITED STATEs PATENT QFFIGE.

woEDEN EDMIsTEn, OF HUNTS sTATIoN, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOE-FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 171,274, dated December 21, 1875; application filed October 30, 1875.

tionand operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings are representations of front views of the shoe-lacing.

This invention has relation to means for facilitating the putting on and taking ofl of laced gaiterboots; and the nature of my invention consists in the combination. of a clasp having eyes formed on it with a lacing-string, as will he hereinafter explained.

In the annexed drawings, A A designate the two sides of the instep and ankle portion of a gaiter-hoot, and b b designate eyes or eyelets, which are fixedto the sides A A near their meeting edges, and which may be of the raised or inserted kind. If desired, the eyes or eyelets may be applied to narrow strips of leather, which are stitched to the sides of theshoe, or plates D D, having eyes b 1) formed on their edges, may be used. The drawing, Fig. 1, shows one of these plates secured to-one side of the shoe. B B designate clasps, having eyes 1) formed on their edges, through which the lacing-string O is passed. On the opposite edges of the clasps B hooks ff are formed, and on the backs of the clasps knobs or small buttons are secured. D D designate plates, which are fixed to the ankle and instep portions of the shoe, on the opposite side of the opening to that having plate D fixed to it. These plates D have slots 6 through them, for the purpose of receiving the hooksfon the clesps B.

It will be seen from the above that after the shoe has been once properly laced on the foot, and the lacing-string tied, the shoe can be put on and taken ofl' by simply detaching the 

